Category Archives: accidental partridge

Jonathan Van-Tam Rips Off His Shirt And Tie On The BBC…And Becomes An Accidental Partridge Victim

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Jonathan Van-Tam went full Alan Partridge on Tuesday night while opening a lecture about viruses.

Speaking during one of the Royal Institute’s Christmas Lectures, the UK’s deputy chief medical officer signalled that he was stepping away from his usual position as a government adviser for the evening with a rather unusual stunt.

JVT, as he is known, began: “Many of you may have seen me giving public health announcements from the podium at No.10 Downing Street.”

″But tonight is different!”

And with that, he pulled off his shirt and tie (to reveal another shirt underneath) under a cloud of smoke.

After a short pause – where the camera zoomed in on the emotionless, silent crowd – he stepped towards the audience and explained: “Tonight I am speaking to you as a scientist and a doctor not a government adviser.”

Then, swiftly pointing at the camera, he said: “Tonight – we’re going viral!”

JVT on BBC Four for the Royal Institute's Christmas lectures
JVT on BBC Four for the Royal Institute’s Christmas lectures

And while he may not have been a hit with the audience, it seems JVT certainly made an impression among his online fans with his move away from serious Covid coverage.

He’s not the only public figure to accidentally replicate Steve Coogan’s satirical character – Alan Partridge, an inept, tone-deaf broadcaster.

Former health secretary Matt Hancock made a similar blunder when he released a video greeting his constitutents, although he did later deleted it.

Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley has also drawn regular comparisons with Partridge during his on air interviews, but he has since addressed the criticism.

He told the Metro: “I honestly don’t care at all. I think it’s quite funny. It’s part and parcel of doing the job that I do.

“I think some of the quotes are often made up to be honest with you, or they’re taken so ludicrously out of context, but I look at it sometimes and I think, ‘Oh that’s a bit unfair.’

“But I don’t mind, it’s all part and parcel of what I do. It’s fine.”

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Matt Hancock’s New Video Becomes An Accidental Partridge Classic

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House of Commons – PA Images via Getty Images

Matt Hancock, former health secretary

Matt Hancock was compared to the fictional character Alan Partridge after he uploaded an unusual video to Twitter on Saturday.

The former health secretary, who resigned after it emerged he breached social distancing guidelines by kissing his aide in June, has kept a relatively low profile over the summer as his marriage broke down.

Now the Tory backbencher appears to be re-emerging into the world of politics and posted a 50-second video online where he meets and greets his constituents in Haverhill.

With upbeat music in the background, Hancock looks slightly out of place as he fist-bumps one member of the public while another affectionately touches his face.

Safe to say, it didn’t go down very well online.

Anti-Brexit campaigner and writer Femi Oluwole commented: “150,000 people dead…the worst breach of Covid lockdown rules of the whole pandemic…

“And this guy (along with 100s of other Tories) is just going to stroll back into Parliament at the next election as if nothing happened because they’re in safe seats. #MakeVotesMATTER!”

Others couldn’t quite believe it was real, with one account tweeting: “This is so cringe. It has to be satire. If he thinks this does him a favour, I’m speechless.”

Some accounts didn’t miss a beat and immediately compared it to the political satire show The Thick of It – or Alan Partridge.

The phrase “accidental Partridge” began showing up all over Twitter, meaning Hancock’s awkwardness embodied Steve Coogan’s character Partridge, a broadcaster who lacks significant social skills.

Coogan describes Partridge as a Little Englander with ring-wing values, and he has become a cultural touchstone on what not to be in broadcasting.

Even the Twitter account Accidental Partridge – which catches clips of awkward public appearances – recognised Hancock’s video.

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